NCJ Number
141656
Journal
School Safety Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 12-14
Date Published
1993
Length
3 pages
Annotation
School conflict management programs in Ohio were evaluated to determine how they affected school operations and school climate.
Abstract
The projects operated in 17 schools that were given small grants from the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management as part of the School Conflict Management Demonstration Project initiated in 1990. An independent evaluator gathered information from May through July 1991 by means of interviews with program coordinators, students, teachers, administrators, and parents. These interviews revealed six important lessons. In the demonstration schools, student mediators enhanced their problemsolving skills, and the expectations of most programs were met. The coordinators' work was satisfying but time- consuming. Results also revealed that understanding and support from administrators and teachers are crucial to successful program initiation, concerns about continued funding are more acute when administrative support is lacking, and direction by a single coordinator jeopardizes the continuation of a program. Findings indicated the need to begin by assessing the school's needs, involve people who have different roles in the children's education and who reflect the school's cultural diversity, collaborate closely with administrators, link conflict management to other teaching practices, and gather information to evaluate the program. Findings also indicated that several of the demonstration schools have experienced improvements in discipline and student attitudes toward conflict.